Evaluation of sulfonic resins for liquid phase alkylation of toluene

The liquid phase alkylation of toluene with 1-octene over different cation-exchange resins (Lewatit SP112, Amberlyst 15, Amberlyst 35) was investigated. The resins Amberlyst 15 and Amberlyst 35 showed high conversions (>90%) and selectivity for monoalkylation products (>90%) under mild reaction conditions (80 and 110 °C). Lewatit is practically inactive. This low activity can be attributed to the low specific area of this resin and low exchanged capacity. The results indicate that Amberlyst 35 is the best catalyst and leads to increase of the selectivity for the production of 2-octyl-toluene.